I've been encapsulating placentas for a few years now and I'm frequently asked questions about their efficacy, how they taste, how they feel, and more. I've described them based on what I've read, researched and heard anecdotally from other moms but always had to begin with: "Well I didn't know about this when I had my kids...BUT if I had you can be sure I would have eaten my placenta!"

I gave birth 9 weeks ago and finally had the chance to put my money....er.....placenta IN my mouth.

The differences were remarkable.

What is strange is that I only noticed how much they were helping on the days I forgot to take them. If I didn't take them I'd feel sluggish and tired. Foggy. I'd get weepy or lose it completely if I got hit with something emotional or stressful. I did not feel super human on these pills. I didn't feel EXTRA energetic or EXTRA happy. If I took them I just felt....normal. And that is the point.

Pregnancy and childbirth deplete you. The best of you goes into the baby and you get whatever is left and what mother wouldn't make that choice voluntarily anyway? But, its amazing that nature provides us with the perfect anecdote to help us postpartum. Help us just feel normal again.

I don't believe it was in my head because I wasn't thinking about it or measuring their effects. In fact it could take 3-4 missed doses before I would think "Wow! I'm weak and lethargic" or "Why can't I stop crying?!" before I'd parse the situation and realize I hadn't been taking them.

I've come to depend on them and to be honest I'm a bit nervous about running out. I'm down to the last few and I have been saving them for days when I know I will be stressed and have a lot asked of me physically.

The reality is - Its a placenta.

Even me who handles them raw, bloody, and sometimes still warm, got grossed out by the taste. I have a super strong sense of smell and just the trace amounts of dust on the outside of the capsules was enough to make me gag so I always took them with something that had a strong flavor. Juice, hot coca, etc. I'm sure that is not the case for everyone and of course I've had pharmaceutical medicines and herbal medicine that tasted far worse.

In the future when asked I can now answer in all honesty about the efficacy of consuming one's own placenta. I can attest to the taste as well